Arts >> Music >> Musical Instruments

What are the five families of musical instruments?

The five families of musical instruments are:

1. String instruments:

- produce sound when a string is plucked or bowed

- e.g. violin, guitar, harp

2. Wind instruments:

- produce sound when air is blown across a mouthpiece

-e.g. flute, clarinet, trumpet

3. Percussion instruments:

- produce sound when struck with a hand, stick or other object

- e.g. drum, cymbal, xylophone

4. Keyboard instruments:

- produce sound when a key is pressed, which activates a hammer that strikes a string

- e.g. piano, organ, synthesizer

5. Electronic instruments:

- produce sound using electronic circuits

- e.g. synthesizer, sampler, theremin

Musical Instruments

Related Categories